What's with Spanish filmmakers and their need to jump backwards and forwards in time, only to create tragic stories that don't amount to a whole lot in the end? After "The Burning Plain", I was hoping that Pedro Almodovar's new film "Broken Embraces" would give us a little more to chew on. I was wrong.
We're first introduced to a blind screenwriter living in Madrid in 2008 named Mateo who goes under the pseudonym Harry Caine (Lluis Homar). He is shocked to hear of the death of Ernesto Martel. The movie then goes back to 1992 when Martel (Jose Luis Gomez) is a business man with a hot little secretary named Lena (Penelope Cruz). Lena's father is dying of cancer and Martel offers to help the family pay for his treatment. Only this comes with a cost for Lena, who becomes his trophy-girlfriend. Back in 2008, Harry is contacted by a young filmmaker named Ray X (Ruben Ochandiano), who wants Harry to help him tell a story about a gay son who gets back at his homophobic father. Harry denies Ray's offer and Ray angrily leaves, leading us to believe a thriller is about to break out where Ray is a psycho-stalker.
There are a few plot twists, flashbacks to 1992 where Harry (still with vision) is directing a film with Lena as his star, and a love triangle that turns violent but "Embraces" feels like Almodovar is going through a lot of trouble for what amounts to very little. The constant time shifts, too many characters figuring into the plot (Mateo's manager and her son among them), the thriller elements that never materialize into anything exciting, the tragic love story, and secrets (most of which predictable) finally revealed are all supposed to figure into why Harry eventually made just a sub-par film. Who cares? There are two highlights here. One is Penelope Cruz, who can play sexy better than anybody and the animal-like passion between her and Homar is undeniably felt. The movie springs to life whenever they're together, especially during a photo-shoot where she portrays Mateo's Marilyn Monroe. The movie is also gorgeously shot by cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto.
We're first introduced to a blind screenwriter living in Madrid in 2008 named Mateo who goes under the pseudonym Harry Caine (Lluis Homar). He is shocked to hear of the death of Ernesto Martel. The movie then goes back to 1992 when Martel (Jose Luis Gomez) is a business man with a hot little secretary named Lena (Penelope Cruz). Lena's father is dying of cancer and Martel offers to help the family pay for his treatment. Only this comes with a cost for Lena, who becomes his trophy-girlfriend. Back in 2008, Harry is contacted by a young filmmaker named Ray X (Ruben Ochandiano), who wants Harry to help him tell a story about a gay son who gets back at his homophobic father. Harry denies Ray's offer and Ray angrily leaves, leading us to believe a thriller is about to break out where Ray is a psycho-stalker.
There are a few plot twists, flashbacks to 1992 where Harry (still with vision) is directing a film with Lena as his star, and a love triangle that turns violent but "Embraces" feels like Almodovar is going through a lot of trouble for what amounts to very little. The constant time shifts, too many characters figuring into the plot (Mateo's manager and her son among them), the thriller elements that never materialize into anything exciting, the tragic love story, and secrets (most of which predictable) finally revealed are all supposed to figure into why Harry eventually made just a sub-par film. Who cares? There are two highlights here. One is Penelope Cruz, who can play sexy better than anybody and the animal-like passion between her and Homar is undeniably felt. The movie springs to life whenever they're together, especially during a photo-shoot where she portrays Mateo's Marilyn Monroe. The movie is also gorgeously shot by cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto.